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 For 125 years the Lakeside Inn, located on beautiful Lake Dora, has been a popular, historical place to stay for visitors to the Mount Dora area.
In 1883, some “founding fathers” of Mount Dora’s first families felt the need for a hotel in the area. In 1924 Charles Edgerton bought the hotel and owned it for the next 55 years. He and his partners built the Olympic-sized swimming pool as well as two guest houses, which were dedicated by President Calvin Coolidge in 1930. The Edgerton’s entertained Governors, Senators and other famous people such as Thomas Edison, Henry Ford, and President Eisenhower.
In 1979, the Inn was closed for a year for the filming of “Honky Tonk Freeway”. The Inn was painted pink and an Indian elephant was taught to water ski on Lake Dora. Imagine that!
During the open house festivities, the Mount Dora trolley continually toured the community, giving visitors an opportunity to see the beautiful homes in the community and visit the five decorated model homes located throughout the community. Refreshments were served in the Ballroom and live entertainment by the Lost Cats provided the music for the Open House. There were Pringle Sales Associates on hand to answer any questions about the community and model homes.
 
Today, the Lakeside Inn remains an active hotel. There are 87 guest rooms that are fully booked during most weekends in season, according to Betty Schou, Sales and Catering Manager. The Tremain Lounge offers Happy Hour from 4-6PM on weekdays with complimentary hors d’oeuvres, as well as live music on Friday and Saturday evenings. The Beauclaire restaurant serves all three meals daily in a beautifully-designed formal setting. The Sunday Brunch attracts many visitors from Fall until late Spring.
Special events on the Inn grounds include the Classic Art Car show, a Labor Day BBQ on the pool deck and a Halloween concert on the front lawns. The décor of the Inn attracts antique and history buffs and those who are celebrating weddings, anniversaries and private parties. Many local visitors gather to sit on the front porch with a glass of lemonade and watch the evening sunset over the lake.
The Lakeside Inn is truly an excellent place to stay while exploring Mount Dora.
www.lakeside-inn.com
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